- Who is eligible to participate in the Coalition?
- The Coalition is a voluntary organization and is open to all organizations that provide healthcare services in King County. Our participants include executives, clinical, and operational representatives from hospitals, long-term care, in-home services, behavioral health, ambulatory care, pediatrics, and ancillary services.
- What are the benefits of participating in the Coalition?
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Participants benefit from:
- Regional training and exercises that test organizational and regional capabilities and lead to better outcomes for staff and patients.
- Technical support for the use of WATrac.
- Activities, tools and resources that support accreditation & licensing demands.
- Regional planning and agreements that lead to improved coordination and access to resources.
- Collaboration and peer support that lead to more transparent and effective preparedness outcomes.
- Opportunities to advise the Local Health Officer and local public officials about policy matters.
- Advocacy and visibility for healthcare with emergency management and other partners.
- How is the Coalition funded?
- Since mid-2010, the Coalition has been laying the groundwork to expand its funding base – traditionally Federal grant monies.
Because Federal funding streams that support the Coalition are at risk of reduction, the Coalition’s Executive Council and staff have worked diligently since mid-2010 to establish a sustainable structure with funding goals. This will allow for support from healthcare organizations participating in the Coalition, as well as non-medical organizations and corporations that want to sponsor the work that the Coalition does for disaster preparedness.
While Public Health and Coalition staff will continue to aggressively pursue Federal grant funds and other funding opportunities, we are now encouraging participating organizations to financially sponsor the Coalition.
- Does my organization need to pay to participate in the Coalition?
- All healthcare organizations with clinics or offices in King County can participate in the Coalition – financial contributions are not mandatory. The Coalition’s Executive Council considers it important for all healthcare organizations located in King County to be engaged in the emergency response programs of the Coalition.
- What are the benefits of being a community sponsor of the Coalition?
- Sponsors who contribute to the Healthcare Coalition’s public-private partnership help prepare and build a resilient King County community that can respond and recover from natural and man-made disasters. Coalition sponsors receive public acknowledgement for their financial support on our website homepage, in newsletters, at all of our conferences, in staff presentations, and in an annual thank you advertisement in The Seattle Times.
- Does the Coalition have a role in disaster or emergency response?
- When a disaster or emergency occurs the Coalition shifts from preparedness to response mode. Public Health – Seattle & King County activates and manages the Health and Medical Command Center to coordinate and communicate with healthcare organizations and providers across the county. The Health and Medical Area Command includes staff from Public Health, the Healthcare Coalition, key healthcare sectors, local emergency management and other partners as needed to support the regional health and medical response. In addition, the Coalition’s Executive Council sits on the Multiagency Coordinating Group, which provides input to the Local Health Officer on policy issues.
- Do I have to participate in the Coalition to receive support during a disaster?
- No, but the Health and Medical Area Command can more effectively connect with you and facilitate resource support if we have an established relationship with your organization. If you are a healthcare organization in King County we recommend you get connected to the Coalition.
- Are there regional exercises that my organization can participate in?
- Yes. Every year the Coalition hosts an annual regional exercise for hospitals and other healthcare providers to test regional and organizational capacity and capabilities.
- Who leads the Coalition?
- The Coalition is administered by Public Health – Seattle & King County. Our Executive Council members are executives from participating organizations, representing all healthcare sectors.
- Does the Coalition coordinate with other local response agencies?
- Yes. The Coalition coordinates on a daily basis with Public Health – Seattle & King County, local fire and EMS agencies, law enforcement, emergency management and other emergency response partners regarding planning, trainings, and exercises.
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